as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
zoomed around the house in a make-believe car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
make believe
3 of 3phrase
as in pretend
to present a false appearance of
He made believe he was sick to get out of going to school.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of make-believe
Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Adjective
Yet in the past, intimate scenes in theater, film and television were rarely treated with the same mindfulness as a make-believe duel.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Noun
As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe health care provider visits.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
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This means flopping through different symbolic rooms of an imaginary house — a schtick that Danielle Deadwyler also had to do for the same reason in The Woman in the Yard, a movie that might still be playing when Thunderbolts* hits the cineplex.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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The deeper themes about race and history and culture, as well as the sheer terror and excitement, all feed audiences craving to confront our demons and fears, but in a safe imaginary setting – all the more important when those fears increasingly stalk the daytime for so many people.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But the pace of adoption makes the possibility feel less like fiction and more like a warning.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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The Edgar Awards announced the 2025 winners on May 1 The awards honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television The association also gave out a selection of special awards at the ceremony The winners of the 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Awards are here!—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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It’s been a full decade since Poot Lovato had her last taste of freedom — and according to Demi Lovato, the hilarious, fictitious alter ego is staying locked up for many decades more.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
22 Apr. 2025
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Officers of the court have a duty of candor to the court and an obligation not to file fictitious lawsuits that have no basis in fact or law.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Computer simulations were having trouble explaining this movement of the streams.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The training center will feature simulations of places where police, firefighters and medics go — a bathroom where someone slipped and fell, a hotel and more.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Also surmised by the movie trailer is that the plot surrounds fictional driver Sonny Hayes, played by actor Brad Pitt.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
4 May 2025
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Focus Features Papal conclaves have inspired several books and films Released in 2024, the movie Conclave, based on the 2016 novel of the same name, focuses on the fictional death of a Pope and the subsequent election process.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 May 2025
Noun
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The Golden Age of great chefs in America was born out of imitation, adaption and innovation by young cooks buoyed by receptive media to get a national, even global, audience.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Protecting the human spark While AI models that simulate creativity in writing, coding, images, audio, or video can achieve remarkable imitations of human works, this sophisticated mimicry currently lacks the full depth of the human experience.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Chicago Bears, unofficial offseason champs more than once in recent years, could be pushing for another mythical crown.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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For the uninitiated, these mythical concepts, Vril and Agartha, both originate in books.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At the center of the initiative to organize legal representation for the Venezuelans is Michelle Brané, an attorney and longtime immigrants’-rights advocate who helped lead the effort to locate the families separated at the border during the first Trump Administration.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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His family said Holden was not given legal representation.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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